Tie plate and rail fastener



2 Sheets-Sheet l J. A. MCGREW June 14, 1932.

' June 14, 1932. q. A. MCGREW 1,863,214.

TIE PLATE AND RAIL FSTENER Filed July 8, 1930 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented June 14, 1932 PATENT; OFFICE JOHN A. MCGREW, F ALBANY, NEW YORK TIE PLATE AN D Application illed July 8,

i This invention relates to rail fasteners and particularly to the type .by which the rail 1s fastened to the 1 tie plate independently of the means for securing the tie plate to the cross-tie.

It is a general object of the present inveni tion to provide an improved -and novel form of tie plate and rail fastener which is simple in design, easy to manufacture and eiiicient in operation.

A more particular object of the invention is the provision of a novel rail fastener element in which the rail base is secured to the tie plate by the resilient pressure of one or more 7 spring clips. The use of these resilient clips in thls connection has a decided advantage over the use of ri id retaining elements both in the reduction o losses due to breakage and 4in the provision of amoreilexible suppport for the rail. j

Other objects are to provide improved means for retaining the spring clips in contact with the tie plates and tov provide adjustable tensioning devices for the clips and 5 means for connecting these devices to the tie plates.

' An important feature of the present invention is the ease with which the spring clips and fasteners may be applied to'practical y any typeof tie plate now in use. In addition to the types illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described ifi the following specification, any of the known or standard types of tie plate maybe readily adapted for use in connection with these fastening elements by an appropriate change in the perforation of the plate.

Further objects and features of novelty will be apparent from the following specification when read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which several embodiments of my invention are illustrated by way of example.v

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan View of a tie plate and rail fastening means constructed-in accord;

nection between certain of the securing means aan. rasr'nm 1930. sum1 11. 466,506.

and the tie plate, the osition occupied by the rail beng shown in Eroken lines;

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on line 2.-2 of Figure 1;

I Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken on 55 line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4' is a fragmentary sectional view, simllar to Figure 2, showing a modification of my device;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary transverse sec- 60 tional view of another modification; and

Figures 6 and 7 are a transverse vertical sectional view and a plan view, respectively, of still another embodiment of my invention.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the draw- 66 ings, the numeral 10 designates generally a stan-dard form of railway rail having a head 11, a web 12, and base flanges 13 and 14. The tie plate 15 is of the usual dimensions and extends laterally for some distance on either side of the base flan es of the rail. The tie plate is provided wit any suitable means for securing it to the cross-tie, which may comprise, for example, the ordinary type of railroad spike or preferably a plurality of lag bolts which are adapted to be inserted in the perforations 16. Upstan'ding ribs 17 are provided on the upper surface of the tie plate and define between them the depression 18 forming a seat for the rail. The inwardly facing B0 walls of the ribs 17 are preferably vertical and the outer walls formed with a gradual slope to merge with the upper surface of the tie plate.-

Outwardly of the ribs 17 the tie late is S5 provided with the perforations or s ots 20. Each of these slots 20 comprises a rectangular portion 21 having oppositely disposed vertical walls 22, and a portion 23 which is of the same width as the portion 21 at the base 90 thereof but is provided with upwardly convergin walls 24. This construction makes the wi th of the top of the slot portion 23 considerably less than that of the bottom of the slot.

As a means for securing the rail base to the tie plate, there is provided on either side ance with my invention, with a port-ion of onev :,thereof the resilient lever or spring clip 25 ofthe clips broken away to reveal the conwhich comprises the U-shaped portion 26 khaving an elongated horizontal leg 27, the 10 edge 27 of which is adapted to bear upon the upper surface ofthe rail base, and another shorter leg 28 which terminates in a vertical downwardly directed portion 29. A,

narrowed tongue 30 is formed upon the vertical portion 29 providing the shoulders 31 upon either side thereof. The tongue 30 is adapted to enter the vertical walled portion '21 of the slot 20 and the shoulders 31 are ing in taper to the walls 24 of the portion 23 of the slot. Threaded upon the upper en'd of the bolts 32 are'the nuts 37 which are adapted to bear upon'the upper surfaces of the legs 27 when tightened upon the bolt.

In assembling the rail vfastening elements the head of each bolt is inserted in the straight walled portion 21 of the corresponding slot 2O and moved inwardly beneath the overhanging converging walls 24 into the inner portions v23 of the slot. The spring clips 25 are,

placed cn the Shanks of the bolts and the f-onguesv30 ofthe legs 28 of the spring clips are inserted in the rectangular portions 2l of the slots as shown in the drawings. The

nuts 37 are then placed upon the Shanks of the bolts and arescrewed down upon the legs 27 of the clips thus flexing the clips and causing the sharp edges 27 to bear with substantially line or knife edge contact upon the upper surfaces of the rail base flanges 13 and 14, so as to grip the rail base flanges firmly at all times. It Awill be seen that, besides forming resilient clamping means for the base flanges of t-he rail, the clips 25 also perform the function of locks for the nuts 37.

The fastening means upon one side of the rail in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 4 is in all respects similar to the devices illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings and the various parts are 'designated by similar reference numerals. The tie plate, however, is differently formed; the ribs 17- being eliminated in this embodiment of my invention and there being provided upon the opposite side of the rail from the fastening means just described the overhanging 'rib or abutment 40 against which the base flange 14 of the rail is adapted to bear.

In Figure 5 there is illustrated a modification of my device in which the same type of tie plate 15 is used and in which all the other elementsv are the same asinthe embodiment illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 except the spring clip or lever designated by the numeral.

42. This clip -42 is adaptedto furnish a somewhat more rigid clamping means than'the clip 25. In this embodiment, the U-shaped bend is eliminated, the vertical leg 43 of the clip joining the upper horizontal leg 44 at right angles as at 45. l

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, still another forni of tie plate is employed which is designated by the numeral 47. As in the case of the plate shown in Figure 4, the ribs 17 are omitted and the overhanging abutment flange 40 is provided for lsecuring the base flange 14 to the rail. At the extreme edge of the tie plate 47 there is provided an upstanding fla-nge or abutment 48. The spring clip 49 employed inl this case is similar to the clip 42 shown in Figure 5 but the upper leg 50 is longer than the corresponding leg 44 of that modification and the short depending vertical leg 51 is not provided with a tongue as in the other cases, but is adapted to seat at its lower edge upon the upper surface of the tie plate 417 and abut the flange 48. As clearly shown in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings, the legs 44 and 50 of the spring 'clips are provided with sharp edges which are adapted to provide sharp line contact with the rail base flanges, just as in the case of the edge 27 in the embodiment first described.

It will be seen that there is provided by means of the present invention a series of rail fastening devices which are adapted for -use under various service conditions and which are susceptible of various other modifications than those herein illustrated and described without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters PatentA is 1. 4In a rail fastener, in combination, a tie plate having a rail seat thereon and a slot formed therein, a U-shaped spring retaining clip having a straight elongated horizontal leg adapted to bear upon said rail base and a shorter leg having a vertical downwardly bent portion adapted to enter said slot, and

adjustable means for securing the intermedil' ate portion vof said lclip to said tie'plate.

2. In a rail fastener, in combination, a tie vplate provided with a slot, a spring lever having one end adapted to bear on the rail base and means on said lever engaging'said tie plate, a pair of opposite walls of said slot being formed with upwardly converging portions,A a bolt for flexing said lever and cogn-` necting lit to said tie plate, said bolt being pro' vided with a head having beveled surfaces to contact with the converging portions of the walls of said slot.

3. In a rail fastener, in combina-tion, a tie plate provided with a slot, a pair of opposite afm 7.....

with a head adapted to enter said slot and having bevelled surfaces to contact with the converging portionsof the walls thereof.

4. In a rail fastener, in combination, a tie plate having a slot therein, said slot being formed with a vertical parallel Walled portion and a laterally adjacent portion having upwardly converging walls, rail flange clamping means including a bolt having a head provided with bevelled sides and adaptel to occupy said last named portion of said s ot.

5. Ina rail fastener, in combination, a tie plate having a Slot therein, a portion of said slot being formed with a pair of opposite vertical parallel walls and another portion thereof having apair of opposite upwardly converging walls, a spring lever having one endv adapted to bear on the rail base, the

opposite end being formed with a tongue adapted to enter the parallel portion of said slot and with a shoulder on either side of said tongue adapted to bear upon the' upper surface of said tie plate at either side of s aidl slot, a bolt passing through an intermedlate portion of said lever and having a head formed with upwardly converging surfaces and adapted to fit within the converging wall portion of said slot, a nut threaded on the upper end of said bolt adapted to bear upon said spring lever to flex it and to secure it to said tie plate. v

` 6. In a rail fastener, in combination, a tie,

plate, an, abutment flange formed at the extreme edge of said tie plate, a slot formed in said' tieN plate, a portion of said slot having vertical oppositely disposed Walls and a portion having opposite upwardly convergings walls, a spring lever havin one end adapted to bear on the rail base'anv the other adapted to bear.' against said flan e, a bolt having a head provided with beve ed sides adapted to interlock withir'i ;be lastnamed portion of said slot, said bolt jissingthrou h an intermediate portion of lever, an 'r'.fa nut threaded on the upper end of said boit and adapted to bear u n said lever to flex it and secure'it to sai tie plate.

7. In a rail fastener in combination, a

l tie plate, a pair of'ribs formed upon said tie plate and defining between them a rail seat, a slot formed in said tie plate on each side of said rail seat, a pair of sprin levers the inwardly projecting ends of which are adapted to bear upon the respective base flanges of the rail, each of the outer ends of lsald levers lformed on the tie plate at t 'of said rail and adapted to overhang and rebeing formed with a ton ue adapted to enter one of said slots, and adjustable means associ-ated @with each of said levers to flex them and secure them to said tie plate.

8. In a rail fastener, in combination, a tieplate having a slot therein, a spring lever having one endI adapted to bear upon the rail base, the other end adapted to enter said slot, and a bolt associated with the intermediate portion of said clip and having a head adapted to enter said slot and interlock with a portion of the walls thereof.

9. In a rail fastener, in combination, a tie plate, a rib formed upon the upper surface of said tie plate against which the rail is adapted to abut, a slot formed in said tie plate outwardly of said rib, a spring lever having one end adapted to bear upon the rail base, the other end thereof adapted to enter said slot, the intermediate portion of said lever adapted to bridge said rib, and a bolt associated with said intermediate portion and having a head adapted to enter said slot and interlock with certain of the Walls thereof.

10. In a lrail fastener, in combination, a tie plate, a resilient lever, said lever being provided with an elongated horizontal arm, a vertical arm, and an intermediate U-s'haped bend, said horizontal arm adapted to bear upon the rail base and said vertical arm engaging a (portion of the tie plate, an extension o sai arm adapted to interlock'with said tie plate, adjustable means associated with the intermediate portion of said lever to flex.

it and securel it to said tie plate, and a rib e opposite side tain the other base an e of the rail.

'In testimony whereo I hereunto ax my signature. v JOHN A. MCGREW. 

